“Of course,” said Isaac pulling out a chair for me. He took his seat next to me and continued to eat his food like I sat here every other day.
“What brings you to this side of the cafeteria?” Isaac asked; glaring at the table I usually sat at.
“Nothing,” I said looking down at my uneaten lunch.
“Nothing? Nothing, usually means something,” he said trying to see into my eyes.
“You’re very intuitive.” I said still not meeting his gaze.
“Did your boyfriend,” he sneered the word, “say something to upset you? Because I’ll go over there and tell him off for hurting your feelings.” He said in all seriousness. I met his electric blue gaze and gave him a weak smile.
“No, I’m just overreacting,” I said giving him a small smile while I pulled apart the sandwich I had packed.
“About what?” He asked.
“Everything,” I breathed trying to stop the trembling in my lower lip.
He absorbed my answer with a contemplative look. “Did he say something to make you overreact?”
I got perturbed with Isaac. “Do you think that maybe this might be about me and not him?” I snapped. “Not everything is about Jonathon!” I raised my voice. “I am Kylie. I am a separate being from Jonathon. Yes, I love him but that doesn’t mean we’re attached at the hip,” I glared at him even though Jonathon and I were practically inseparable.
Isaac looked taken aback. “Well, what are you upset about?”
“Leaving,” I said looking down at the white lacquered table.
“Leaving?” He asked his black brows knitting together.
“Yes,” I said sighing. “When we graduate I’m leaving,” I said like it was obvious.
“Where are you going?” He asked, looking worried. I was more upset by the prospect that in a short time I may be leaving this Earth but Isaac didn’t need to know that.
“I don’t know,” I breathed which was true. I had no clue where Jonathon was planning on taking me and I preferred to keep it that way. The less I knew the better.
“Then why are you leaving?” he asked. I was getting sick of the twenty questions game.
“Because I have to,” I said exasperated.
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. I’m here for you, Ky. I’ve got your back,” he said and patted my back in emphasis.
“I know. But I have to leave. It’s just better that way.” Safer.
“Are you going with someone?” he asked. And I knew his real question. Was I running away with Jonathon?
“Yes,” I said hoping I didn’t hurt his feelings. But I could see that he was hurt. I wished desperately that he would get over his crush on me and just be my friend. I needed a human to talk to. Sometimes it was hard only being able to talk to vampires.
The bell chose this moment to ring and I was relieved. I left the table in a flash maybe even faster than a vampire. I had to get out of this confined room. I dumped my trash and put my tray hastily into the bin and all but ran out of the lunch room.
“Kylie, what is wrong with you?” Jonathon’s voice sounded close to my ear so no one could hear. His cold hand was around my wrist and it sent a shiver down my spine and he let go.
“Oh nothing,” I mumbled. I had tried explaining this to him again and again just like this morning and he never seemed to understand. I did understand the need to kill Selena because not only would she kill me but she would kill others in the process to kill me. Her death was necessary. Others were not. But I just wished that Jonathon and the others wouldn’t discuss the matter in front of me. It made it all the more real and I thought he of all people would understand that. I didn’t need reminders of what had happened in that house and what could happen in the future. It wasn’t good for me.
I pulled him into a deserted hallway and whispered frantically, “Jonathon, we discussed this earlier this morning. I know she has to be killed but I don’t want to hear about it. If you need to discuss battle strategies or whatever please don’t do it around me. I don’t need any more reminders about what happened and what probably is going to happen. When graduation is over I’ll leave with you. I don’t want to go but I will. I’ll go wherever you want to take me as long as I am with you I don’t care where you take me. Just don’t leave me again,” I finished my voice cracking into a higher pitch on the last word.
His silver eyes were warm and caring and for the first time in months I think he finally understood what I had been feeling. “Okay,” he said. “I promessa, no more battle planning in front of you after tonight.”
“After tonight?”
He looked sheepish. “We’re meeting The Coven tonight. You need to go so they know what we’re protecting, you. And since you’re the only person Selena has made direct contact with you need to be there to explain the situation to them. You have more information than we do. Plus, they don’t trust us since we’re vampires. But you, you’re human. They’ll trust you and protect you. It’s their job after all.” He said rolling his eyes.